BANGKOK: The governor of Thailand’s Chiang Mai province has sued a local magazine for posting a “blasphemous” painting on Facebook of ancient kings wearing pollution masks as part of a campaign to protest the city’s hazardous smog. The risks of testing those boundaries were on display Friday when an English-language magazine faced legal action for posting an image on social media of three statues of ancient kings -- a Chiang Mai landmark -- in pollution masks. “The statues of three kings are very sacred and respected by Chiang Mai residents, they were our ancestors,” he added. Chiang Mai is one of Thailand’s largest cities and a major hub for travellers exploring the country’s lush and mountainous north. Prosecutions under lese majeste and Computer Crime Act have shot up under their rule, often netting social media users.

Source: The Star March 31, 2018 05:26 UTC